Grateful Bosses Refuse to Cut Workers

Even when faced with falling revenue, some business owners like these two in Georgia, decided they could cut budgets, hours, inventory and holiday parties. But they refused to trim their most costly expense — their employees.

“I knew I couldn’t look into their faces and fire them,” said Mitzi Smith. So she told her 25 employees, ‘There will be no layoffs. There is a recession, but I made a conscious decision not to participate in it. I’ll do whatever it takes to not cut any jobs.’ “

Dan Erling also refused to fire anyone. Now, the worst of the economic downturn is over for Erling and Smith. Both are hiring.